North Carolina Data Center Intel

Recent North Carolina data center news

• Sep 24, 2025

  Avangrid to supply power from Oregon Trail Solar Project to Amazon  

  Avangrid has announced a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Amazon for the Oregon Trail Solar Project.

  • Project and deal details: 57MW DC Oregon Trail Solar in Gilliam County, Oregon will supply renewable energy to Amazon’s data centres in the region; the facility is scheduled to start operations in 2027 and the PPA is the agreed mechanism for energy supply for those data centres.
  • Background and additional facts: The project features >100,000 solar panels, will generate electricity equivalent to ~10,000 US homes, is expected to create around 200 construction jobs (largely local union labour), and Avangrid anticipates approximately $6m in payments in lieu of taxes and property taxes over its lifetime; this builds on a prior PPA tied to the Leaning Juniper IIA repower project in Gilliam County and other agreements across Illinois, Ohio, and North Carolina. Avangrid has operated in Oregon since 2001 and currently manages 2.5GW of capacity and facilities including the National Training Center in Sherman County and a corporate office in Portland. Last month Avangrid signed a contract with SmartestEnergy for power from two projects in New Hampshire.
• Sep 10, 2025

  Climate Change Solutions - September 9, 2025

  The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) published a newsletter highlighting recent climate solutions, Congressional activity, briefings, and an upcoming AI-and-energy event.

  • Main announcement: EESI summarizes new content and events including articles on passive and sustainable cooling, grid resilience to heat waves, and a new Nature4Communities tool from U.S. Nature4Climate; it also hosted a briefing with the Ohio River Basin Alliance as part of its Resilient and Healthy Rivers series. Key figures and policy items cited include $57.3 billion in FY2026 discretionary funding in H.R.4553 (Energy and Water appropriations), a noted reduction of $766.4 million from 2025 levels, an authorizing proposal of $10 million to DOE under H.R.4490 (Wildfire Grid Resiliency Act), and $30 million annually directed to local officials under H.R.5154 (REACT Act).
  • Background and upcoming actions: The newsletter catalogs Congressional bills and hearings, media coverage, and events; it also announces an EESI briefing on AI and energy.
    • Event: “Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Energy and the Environment”
      • Date: Thursday, September 25
      • Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
      • Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online (livecast/RSVP link provided)
    • Other details: Highlight notes available for the 28th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy Forum and EXPO; a cited statistic: every $1 invested in transit generates $5 in economic returns.
• Aug 13, 2025

  50 States of Power Decarbonization Q2 2025: States Restrict Plant Retirements and Investigate Emerging Energy Sources

  The NC Clean Energy Technology Center released its Q2 2025 edition of the “50 States of Power Decarbonization” quarterly report.

  • Main announcement: The Q2 2025 report found 48 states and Puerto Rico took 393 actions related to electric power decarbonization and resource planning during the quarter, and noted 317 introduced bills not yet passed. The report also summarizes planned capacity changes from recently filed or under‑review integrated resource plans: 118,262 MW solar, 98,317 MW natural gas, 50,117 MW wind, 47,258 MW storage, and 44,286 MW planned coal retirements.
  • Background and details: The report identifies three Q2 2025 trends: (1) lawmakers imposing conditions on electric generation facility retirements; (2) states researching effects of large load customers (e.g., data centers) on the grid; (3) legislators investigating advanced nuclear and geothermal. It highlights top policy developments in Connecticut, Arkansas, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, Maine, and an Indiana executive order; media contact is Shannon Helm, NCCETC (shannon_helm@ncsu.edu).
• Jul 31, 2025

  Why Your Electricity Bill Is So High

  The NRDC article explains how rising electricity bills in the U.S. are driven by aging fossil fuel power plants, policy decisions favoring costly and inefficient energy sources, and the growing electricity demand from AI and data centers.

  • Key facts: The Plant Vogtle nuclear project in Georgia cost $35 billion, $17 billion over budget, causing a 24% rate increase for customers; PJM grid delays in connecting 286 GW of renewables led to a 600% price increase affecting 67 million people; the Inflation Reduction Act had supported renewables but recent federal policies are rolling back incentives and promoting fossil fuels.
  • Confirmed impacts: Electricity prices rose 13% nationally from 2022 to 2025; AI and data centers could consume 5-9% of U.S. electricity by 2030; repeal of clean energy incentives may increase household energy costs by up to $430 annually by 2035.
• Jul 23, 2025 · Appalachian Voices

  Gas Buildout Continues Across Southeast

  The article reports on ongoing and planned expansions of methane gas infrastructure across Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

  • Duke Energy plans 9 gigawatts of new methane gas generation by 2035, delaying interim carbon reduction goals; Williams Companies and Mountain Valley Pipeline are advancing pipeline expansions crossing state borders.
  • Dominion Energy received state permission to increase fossil fuel use despite clean energy mandates, facing community opposition and expert testimony suggesting alternatives like battery storage could meet demand; Tennessee Valley Authority board changes have stalled its long-term energy planning while it proposes aggressive methane gas generation expansion.
• Jul 23, 2025

  Data centers seek flexible power solutions for resilience, sustainability

• Apr 24, 2025

  Duke Energy, GE Vernova Strike Major Gas Turbine Deal to Support Explosive Demand Growth

  Duke Energy has entered a significant partnership with GE Vernova for the supply of up to 11 advanced 7HA gas turbines to support its integrated resource plans (IRPs).

  • Duke Energy aims to meet rising power demand driven by growth in advanced manufacturing, data centers, and population.
  • Industry-wide turbine supply shortages are leading utilities like Duke, NextEra, Entergy, and NRG to secure long-term procurement agreements and investment in manufacturing expansion.
  • GE Vernova is investing $160 million in its Greenville, South Carolina facility to increase production capacity by 25%, part of a $600 million U.S. manufacturing expansion.
  • Duke’s updated resource plans include combined cycle natural gas plants, battery storage, and transmission upgrades to meet 1.5-5% projected annual load growth across its service areas through 2032.

  This partnership reflects a strategic focus on dispatchable natural gas generation amid high demand and supply chain constraints, aiming to accelerate clean energy infrastructure deployment.

• Apr 24, 2025

  Duke Energy and GE Vernova announce significant arrangement for gas turbines and associated equipment

  Duke Energy forms a significant partnership with GE Vernova for natural gas turbines.

  • Agreement to procure up to 11 American-produced GE Vernova 7HA gas turbines aligned with Duke Energy’s integrated resource plans.
  • Partnership addresses growing energy demands driven by advanced manufacturing, data centers, and population growth.
  • GE Vernova’s Greenville, S.C. facility expansion supports historic demand with nearly $600 million investment, including $300 million in Gas Power business.
  • Investments include manufacturing process modernization, supplier capacity increase, and creation of over 1,500 U.S. jobs.
  • New gas turbine assets to leverage Duke Energy’s existing infrastructure, lowering costs and speeding market delivery.
    This partnership solidifies supply and capacity for Duke Energy to support future energy growth and modernization needs.
• Apr 24, 2025

  Duke Energy and GE Vernova announce significant arrangement for gas turbines and associated equipment

  Duke Energy and GE Vernova announce a significant partnership for natural gas turbines and associated equipment.

  • Partnership includes a plan to procure up to 11 American-produced GE Vernova 7HA gas turbines aligned with Duke Energy’s integrated resource plans.
  • Builds on eight previously secured 7HA turbines, aimed at meeting growing energy demand from manufacturing, data centers, and population growth.
  • GE Vernova’s Greenville, SC facility expanded with nearly $600 million U.S. manufacturing investment, including $300 million in Gas Power business, creating more than 1,500 jobs.
  • The arrangement utilizes Duke Energy’s existing infrastructure to reduce costs and accelerate deployment.
    The agreement highlights tangible progress in Duke Energy’s strategy for reliable energy and economic growth support.
• Apr 23, 2025

  Trina Storage North America and FlexGen Partner to Deliver 371 MWh Grid-Scale Energy Storage System in Houston, Texas

  Trina Storage partners with FlexGen to deploy a 371 MWh battery energy storage system in Houston, Texas.

  • The project represents Trina Storage’s largest grid-scale deployment in North America.
  • FlexGen provides system integration and its HybridOS™ energy management software for optimized operational efficiency.
  • The project involves equity and tax offtake partners including Macquarie and KeyBank, supporting investment confidence.
  • Trina Storage’s Elementa 2 solution and FlexGen’s software aim to enhance grid reliability and accelerate energy storage deployment.
    This collaboration reflects growing demand and advancements in flexible energy storage in North America, positioning the partners at the forefront of the energy transition.